Since Gordon Strachan was "mutually consented" out of the door, Scotland's form has dipped with five defeats in six friendlies.

Alex McLeish managed a win in Hungary and, of course, last month's Nations League opener against Albania was a success.

That means Scotland are unbeaten in seven competitive fixtures since a 3-0 loss to England at Wembley in November 2016.

The teams are out, both in their away kits. That means Scotland are in yellow shirts with navy socks and shorts. Israel in a nifty Man City / Napoli number.

National anthem time...

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The reason Scotland's bench is a good bit smaller than the hosts' is down to Robert Snodgrass and Scott McTominay not being risked due to injury and the fact no replacements were called up for Leigh Griffiths and Ryan Fraser.

Israel head coach Andreas Herzog has already had one painful experience with Alex McLeish.

Back in September 1989, he was forced off with an injury while playing for Rapid Vienna against Aberdeen.

"He tackled me from behind so I dislocated my shoulder," Herzog revealed at yesterday's media conference.

"It is just a funny thing. It is a long, long time ago but I know the Scottish teams are hard to beat because they have a great mentality.

"I played against them (Scotland) in the under-21 championships. They were always close games so I expect the same."

Will Herzog get his revenge this evening or will McLeish land another blow, psychologically speaking?

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This is Scotland's fourth meeting with Israel, with the Scots looking to maintain a 100% record.

The last encounter was back in 1986, with Paul McStay on target in a 1-0 friendly win in Ramat-Gan.

The last competitive game was in 1981, with a double from John Robertson and a David Provan strike earning a 3-1 qualifying win on our way to the World Cup in Spain.

Kenny Dalglish scored the only goal in the away game during that campaign.

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This guy looks familiar...

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Scottish fans will recognise Brighton midfielder Beram Kayal from his four-and-a-half seasons at Celtic.

The 30-year-old is one of just six players in the home squad that play outside of Israel.

Star forward Eran Zahavi, who plays in China, is missing through injury, while Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton and Hibernian goalkeeper Ofir Marciano have been long-term absentees.

The main goal threat will come from Moanes Dabbur, the 26-year-old who has scored 15 times in 17 appearances this season for Salzburg - two of them in a recent Europa League group win over Celtic.

Israel: Harush, Ben Harush, Tibi, Yeini, Dasa, D. Peretz, Natcho, Kayal, Twatha, Sahar, Dabbur.

Substitutes: Haimov, Kannadli, Glazer, Habashi, Tzedek, Hemed, Einbinder, Micha, Atar, Awwad, Seba, Bitton.

Scotland: McGregor; Souttar, Mulgrew, Tierney; O'Donnell, McGinn, McDonald, McGregor, Robertson; Russell, Naismith.

Substitutes: Gordon, McLaughlin Forrest, Hendry, McKenna, Shinnie, Armstrong, McBurnie.

Referee: Daniel Stefanski (Poland)

Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

If we get beat tonight the pressure goes on to the manager and then Leigh Griffiths is an issue. You know how it works.

And if it's the same for the next game then we end up talking about [Alex] McLeish and Griffiths like Steven Fletcher. You want to try and nip it in the bud now.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland in Haifa

Quite muggy here in Haifa as kick-off approaches but not overwhelmingly so. It’s a nice arena but by the sounds of it, it’s only going to be about a third-full at best. Hopefully the lack of atmosphere will work in the Scots’ favour.

Image source, BBC Sport

Fixtures to come:

Israel v Scotland 11 Oct

Israel v Albania 14 Oct

Albania v Scotland 17 Nov

Scotland v Israel 20 Nov

Sportscene has all the highlights from tonight's Group C1 game on BBC Two Scotland after Newsnight.

Fingers crossed it's worth staying up for.

Image source, BBC Sport

Steven Naismith wins his 48th cap this evening after it looked as if his Scotland days were behind him.

The 32-year-old has already banged in 10 goals in his second loan spell at Hearts.

And he made the most of a late call-up last time, earning a start against Albania and chipping in with the opening goal and an assist.

The former Kilmarnock, Rangers, Everton and Norwich forward was used just once in the World Cup qualifying campaign and had not played for his country in 18 months before a substitute appearance against Belgium in September.

"I did begin to wonder 'am I going to get any more chances?'," he said last night.

"It is difficult when you miss out on a squad or are in a squad but you aren't involved in the games.

"But my mentality has always been to work as hard as I can and never give up and I am thankful to get the opportunity but it is about putting in the performances and on match days as well.

"As you get older you feel that your opportunities maybe get a bit more limited and you have to grasp them."

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

I can understand why he [Leigh Griffiths] was angry but sometimes, having had to handle him myself in the past, he can be a difficult character to handle.

But he's another good player going forward who, after his exploits against England in particular, is a big player for Scotland.

He's stayed at home, he might be doing himself out of a cap, a future for Scotland and we'll see how it transpires. He's not done himself any favours.

I think it is sometimes something you've got to accept even if you think you're the better player, if the team have done a good number on the opposition, but sometimes he doesn't and that's where his problem lies.

For his sake and his future, he's just got to get himself back in the squad, whether he's sat on the bench or not, and wait for his opportunity and take it. He's got to build Alex McLeish's trust again.

Tonight's game comes into the "must-win" category for the hosts.

However, Israel's recent record is pretty ropey, with just one win in their past 10 games. Manager Andi Herzog began with a 1-0 loss in Albania and a 3-0 friendly defeat in Northern Ireland last month.

"We have to go into the game with great passion, fighting spirit and with our technical ability and then we will have a really good game," said Herzog.

"I want my team to enjoy everything and not put too much pressure on us because it is not an easy situation. "But we all know that if we are to have a chance of qualifying then we have to win.

"I want my players to convince the supporters of the future that there is a new team coming around and of course we want them to be behind the team but first we have to perform well otherwise it is just talking."

Most of the headlines this week have been about a player who is not in Haifa tonight after Leigh Griffiths caused a stooshie by deciding against travelling to work on his fitness.

Alex McLeish and his staff insist that there is no issue with the Celtic striker, who dropped to the bench for the Albania game and spoke of a "kick in the teeth" after reports of the manager saying Steven Naismith was already penciled in for the Israel game.

Griffiths has had backing from his skipper at Celtic, with Scott Brown saying: "Scotland and Celtic need Leigh as fit as he possibly can be for the whole season.

"I think he's probably done the best thing for him for now. It's brave of the wee man to have done that."

But former Scotland striker Kenny Miller took a different view.

"For me, you don't pick and choose when you play for the national team," the Dundee forward told Sportsound on Wednesday. "If you've got a wee injury and you need to recover, absolutely. But if you want to do extra work and get fit I'm sure you could speak to the coaches and the sports science team."

Another ex-Scotland international Kris Commons chipped in with; "I don't think it's a selfish thing. He wants to get back playing at a top level, to what he knows he can do."

In-form Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser also dropped out of the original squad with an injury, although maybe he is still traumatised after being asked to play wing-back against Belgium...

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For those of you still struggling with this new tournament, here's a wee refresher...

READ MORE: Nations League: A back door into the Euros?

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

I'm not so sure it's his strongest 11 going forward but there's no qualms, nobody can have any complaints that they are not starting tonight after the performance of the team against Albania.

We asked you to choose a Scotland XI for tonight's game and had 14,000 respondents to our squad selector.

Here's the composite team based on those replies and the big shock was no place for Celtic defender Kieran Tierney, while most of you wanted Scott McKenna at centre-half, James Forrest on the right of midfield and Stuart Armstrong in the middle of the park.

The majority also plumped for an old fashioned 4-4-2. Is that hankering back to former days of glory or because it's the first formation option available?

Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

I thought it would be very hard for him to change it unless they were enforced changes. He's made the right decision. The manner they performed against Albania, led Alex (McLeish) to give the players that did the business the nod.

The actual formation itself, the 3-5-2 can be offensive and defensive, it's quite flexible so why change it.

Manager Alex McLeish has gone with the same starting XI from last month's 2-0 home win over Albania

That means Celtic winger James Forrest is on the bench despite banging in four first-half goals against St Johnstone on Sunday.

McLeish spoke of "rhythm and continuity" yesterday, so his selection should not come as a huge surprise after a good showing at Hampden.

Scotland XI: McGregor; Souttar Mulgrew Tierney; O'Donnell McGinn McDonald, McGregor, Robertson; Russell, Naismith.

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